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Former newsman criticises Imparja

A former news director says he cannot understand why Imparja was able to afford a new building, but not local programs.

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A former Imparja staff member says the television station did not give any indication it would be cancelling its news service.

The Aboriginal-owned station laid off at least seven staff last week and cut its flagship current affairs program and news updates.

It moved into new, multi-million dollar headquarters earlier in the year and also made a bid to buy Channel Nine in Darwin.

Former news director Tim Francis says he cannot understand why the station was able to afford a new building, but not local programs.

“The most remarkable thing I think is they’ve got this … $9 million state-of-the-art digital facility, and you’ve basically just got a sales team sitting in there now,” he said.

“So it’s just phenomenal in that regard, I reckon.”

Imparja broadcasts to more than 400,000 people in outback communities from the Gulf of Carpentaria to the Great Australian Bight.

The station has pledged to produce 6 per cent of its airtime, but without a local news service it will only produce one weekly program – for children.

Double Trouble is up for an AFI Award next week.

Source: ABC

5 Responses

  1. While I had an extra thought or more: –

    SCTV, Central 7 or Southern Cross by any other name, at least is client orientated and acknowledges that progress is money and tries to cater for client and viewer satisfaction. (Not fantastic having Brisbane News, as does Imparja, shoved down our throats and Zero local content. Another issue).

    SBS curently has both channels in Digital here, as does ABC. So currently, that’s 4 out of 6 channels in Digital, and one more soon. Can’t wait.

    Very keen to hear Imparja excuses to stay outdated and prehistoric.

  2. Imparja is the biggest joke of Oz TV. I just got it in stereo a year or so ago. I’m amazed they transmit in colour.

    I’ll bet London to a Brick that they won’t transmit digital TV to remote, or even semi-remote areas unless they get a hefty Govt asistance, and then not until about 2013. I sincerely hope I am proved wrong.

    Guess what channel won’t be on my Digital favourites list in about a year or so? And guess what channel I will no longer submit advertising to? They bid for a major TV Channel?? Yeah right. With what money? Yet they didn’t participate in FreeView. I rest my case.

    The Scoffer. Katherine NT

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